Eugene, I understand your concerns, and agree with you in that I think our cultural context of individualism has tended to make ownership of true budo difficult in our society. And, unlike Opher, I do not equate "sticking to tradition" with blindness. In fact, I think quite the opposite. I've said it elsewhere, but I think to enter into a student-disciple relationship with eyes wide open is the only way to obtain a direct transmission of the art.
Paul
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